When you try to set up or establish network connections on a Windows computer, you might see an error message. This can be the result of various glitches or configuration issues on the computer or in the path between the computer and the rest of the network.
The error may look like one of these messages:
Limited or no connectivity: The connection has limited or no connectivity. You may not be able to access the Internet or some network resources. The connection is limited
How to locate and resolve “limited or no connectivity” errors
- First of all, start with this guide How to fix common Internet connection problems.
If you don’t have any luck there, come back to this page and start with Step 2.
- Restart the computer. This is an extremely common step for almost any computer problem, and since the network problem may be linked to your computer’s software, you should start with a reboot.
You may have already tried this step, in which case you can skip to the next.
- Reboot your router or modem. Note that we’re saying reboot, not reset . Rebooting is simply turning it off and then back on while the router reboots, which means restoring all of its settings to their default values, a step that’s a bit more destructive than what we’re looking for right now.
If restarting the router doesn’t work at all or is just a temporary fix, continue to step 4.
- If you connect to the network using an Ethernet cable, the cable may have failed. First, unplug the cable, and then plug it back in. Then, if necessary, temporarily replace the network cable with a new or different one to see if the problem is with the cable.
- Run this command in an elevated Command Prompt to reset the Windows TCP/IP stack to its original state, a step that often fixes many network-related problems:
netsh int ip reset C:logreset.txt
Some other netsh commands you can try if resetting the network adapter did not fix the network error. Also at an elevated Command Prompt, enter the first command, then the second, then the third, in that order, hitting Enter after each.
netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled
netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
.
Next, run this command to verify that the setting is disabled:
netsh int tcp show global End with a reboot.
- If you’re on Wi-Fi when you see this error, your network adapter may be going to sleep to save power. You can prevent this from happening on the adapter ‘s Power Management tab.
Here’s how: Look for Network and Sharing Center in Control Panel. Right-click Wi-Fi Connection , go to Properties , then click the Configure button and find the Power Management tab . Uncheck the option that allows the computer to turn off the device to save power .
- If your network is using DHCP, first find your local IP address.
If the IP address is set to a static IP address, you will need to change the adapter settings so that it automatically obtains an address from the DHCP server. Make sure that DHCP ends up enabled and that there is not a specific IP address recorded for the adapter. If the local IP address your computer uses starts with 169.254, it means it is invalid and you are not getting a useful address from the router. Try running the commands ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew at a Command Prompt.
- Try to update the device driver for the network card. An outdated card or corrupt driver may be the problem.
- If Windows asks you to try to repair the connection itself, accept and run the Network Troubleshooter or the Network Repair utility (these are called by different names depending on the version of Windows).
- If you are connected via Wi-Fi and your router uses wireless security, your WPA key or other security key may not be set correctly. Log in to the router and check your computer’s network wireless security settings, and update them if necessary.
- If there is still no connection, unplug the router and connect the computer directly to the modem. If this setup works and you no longer see the error, your router may be malfunctioning.
Contact the router manufacturer for additional help. However, if the error persists and the network is still down, contact your Internet Service Provider for help as the problem may lie with them.